Health is paramount in our day-to-day lives. In addition to visiting a doctor when you are sick, you should also have regular checkups. Healthcare providers have a caseload of patients to attend to, so to help them there are several things you should keep in mind to make the appointment run smoothly. You know your body best, so you are your best advocate.
Doctor-Approved Tips That Will Get You More From Your Visit
Whenever you schedule a doctor's appointment , come prepared. However embarrassing you may find your condition or question, doctors have seen or heard it all before. Below is a list of some of the things that healthcare providers may like you to keep in mind when you come in for your appointment.
1. Don't Be Embarrassed Doctors Have Seen It All
Health care providers need you to know that whatever condition makes you schedule an appointment, they have more than likely seen patients in similar situations or with the kind of condition you are troubled with. Don’t be ashamed to open up to your healthcare provider - it’s their job to take care of you, so there’s no need to feel self-conscious.
As an example, having a weak bladder, or weakened pelvic floor is a common problem and may result in urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, many people may feel too embarrassed to speak up for fear of being labelled as someone who wets themselves. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and some forms of urinary incontinence may be treated medically. Even if there is no permanent treatment for the kind of incontinence you may suffer, there are multiple different disposables for all types and levels of incontinence . Your doctor will be able to help you find a quality brand suitable for your condition.
2. Give Your Symptoms Context
Tell the healthcare provider the whole story of all your symptoms, not just a list of them. For example, instead of just saying, "I have a headache," start from the beginning. A good narration of how you feel should have a beginning, middle, and an end, just like a story. It is an excellent idea to rehearse the narration of symptoms before visiting a doctor, ensuring that you remember all the information in the most concise form.
3. You Are in In Charge Of Your Health
In many ways, you are in control of your own health. Even though doctors are there to help you, you need to do your part to help maintain your health.
When you take control of your own wellbeing, it helps safeguard your health in the future. There are a number of ways you can look after your health :
- Being active
- Reporting symptoms as soon as they occur
- Keeping track of your medical information
- Knowing about your medical history
- Setting your own health goals, such as weight loss
- Being able to understand the complexities of chronic illnesses such as diabetes or lupus
- Asking your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist questions
- Regularly visit doctors for checkups
- Always being prepared for doctors appointments
4. If You Do Not Understand Something, Say So
During a visit to a doctor, you might receive a diagnosis that you do not understand. The doctor needs you to grasp information concerning your diagnosis, the treatment process, and any follow-ups. Speak up if anything isn’t clear. You’re not expected to know what medical jargon means, so ask the doctor to clarify things you don’t understand about your condition or the treatment process.
Similarly, if you don’t understand your prescription or have questions, ask your doctor about the side effects of the drugs, or any other information you should know. You should also ask when you should expect to feel the effects, and the next step you should take if the condition does not improve.
5. If You Are Under Treatment, Do Not Miss Your Scheduled Appointments
Continuing with ongoing treatments and showing up for all your appointments is a vital part of care. It doesn’t matter if you require serious ongoing therapies or treatments such as dialysis, radiation or chemotherapy, or ongoing therapies such as UV therapy for psoriasis, maintaining your regular treatment schedule is essential.
If you skip a session or fail to maintain a regular treatment schedule, your treatment is likely to have less effect and in some cases, such as chemo or radiation, a patient may be vulnerable to infection or illness due to the effect of the treatments on the immune system. Keeping to your schedule not only ensures the efficacy of treatment, it also means that your progress and any problems that may arise can be quickly identified and treated.
6. Weight Is A Sensitive Matter
If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can make a huge difference in your life, including:
- Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance
- Reduce high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Decrease stress on the joints
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
Doctors understand the difficulty that is involved in the weight loss journey. Your doctor will be able to give you advice on safe and effective methods of losing weight.
7. Not Everyone Should Take An Aspirin In A Day
Research appears to support daily Aspirin intake as a possible preventative measure to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack . That said, daily aspirin is not for everyone, as studies also show that regular consumption of aspirin may also cause bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract. One the effects of aspirin is interfering with the clotting mechanism of blood. This blood thinning effect is what may be responsible for the reduction in heart attack and stroke risk, but is similarly it is most likely the cause of bleeding in the gut. Do not take daily aspirin without the doctor's consultation.
8. Be Honest If You Are Not Taking Medication As Prescribed
Patients not taking their prescribed medication correctly happens all too often. Some patients never fill a prescription, some won’t complete a course of pills, and others may take the drugs incorrectly. Patients may be afraid to tell the doctor that they haven’t correctly followed a course of treatment or are not taking their medication at all.
If you are experiencing side effects from a drug, talk to your doctor rather than stop taking them. They will likely be able to prescribe a different drug you may react better to. Similarly, if you have been lax in taking your medication, be honest with your doctor. It may be uncomfortable to admit, but if the doctor works under the assumption that you have been taking your medication but nothing has improved, it may compromise your treatment.